Super De Gea saves United, Shaktar win

Goalkeeper David de Gea added another heart-stopping save to his collection as Manchester United held Sevilla to a goalless away draw in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie on Wednesday.

The Spain international foiled the home side's Colombian striker Luis Muriel from point-blank range at the end of the first half not long after tipping over an overhead kick from Argentine defender Gabriel Mercado.

In disbelief, Muriel embraced the left post and closed his eyes for a few moments.

"I lament that missed chance," Muriel said. "I could have gone for the corner but I decided to strike it harder instead of placing it. De Gea is a great goalkeeper and made a great save.

"We played exactly as you should: we were disciplined in every stage of the game but we leave here feeling a little bitter that we couldn't score."

De Gea, who has been in outstanding form for the Red Devils for the last three years, was quizzed about the save from Muriel.

"It was in the last minute of the first half so it was an important moment of the game," De Gea said. "I made a save and I'm happy for that."

The Spanish side created far more chances than Jose Mourinho's side in Seville.

United forward Romelu Lukaku spurned a rare clear opening in the first period when he punted a pass from Alexis Sanchez well over the bar and the Belgian had a goal ruled out for handball late in the second.

Mourinho left record signing Paul Pogba out of the starting line-up but was forced to bring on the French midfielder when Ander Herrera pulled up injured early in the game.

The manager took a dig at his medical staff whom he said gave Herrera the all-clear on Saturday, allowing him to train on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

"... the back-heel creates a contraction in the muscular area where he had a fitness problem, and now we have the proof that he was not 100 per cent fit."

The second leg takes place at Old Trafford on March 13.

In Kharkiv, Shakhtar Donetsk's South American blend proved too strong for AS Roma as goals from Facundo Ferreyra and Fred gave them a 2-1 win in freezing conditions.

The Serie A team appeared to be coasting in the round of 16 first leg tie when Cengiz Under put them ahead with his fifth goal in four games four minutes before half-time.

Yet as the temperature dipped towards minus nine Celsius, Argentine striker Ferreyra took advantage of poor Roma defending to score with an expertly-taken goal in the 52nd minute.

That turned the game on its head and it was no surprise when Brazilian midfielder Fred curled in a free kick off the underside of the crossbar to stun the visitors in the 71st minute.